Diverter valve



y 1935- P. F. KREUZER ET AL 2,041,002

DIVERTER VALVE Filed NOV. 28, 1934 INVENTOR5 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DIVERTER VALVE Application November 28, 1934, Serial No. 755,108

14 Claims. (01. 251-76) This invention relates to an improved spout with a diverter valve particularly adapted for use in a plumbing fixture to divert water normally issuing to a bath tub through the usual spout,

and to cause it to flow through a shower arrangement above such tub. The valve is of the type which is held in diverting position by force of the pressure of water passing through said spout, and is so devised that it is moved to diverting position by said pressure when a latch is released and returns to latched position when the flow of water is cut off. We have arranged our valve within a spout which is tapped on the upper side for inserting a pipe to support and supply water to a shower device. This permits the substitution of our valve-carrying spout for a spout of the usual type, and. the addition of shower equipment, without need of access to the apparatus for mixing hot and cold water which apparatus is usually concealed.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view of a spout containing our valve with the interior parts shown in phantom; Fig. 2 is a view of the valve plug and the trigger which controls it; Fig. 3 is a view of a shower in position over a tub showing one relation of our spout and valve thereto; Fig. 4 is a view of the latch.

Referring to the drawing, the tub I, a portion of which is shown, is of the usual type and pro-; vided with a mixer (not shown) in which the desired temperature of water is secured by manipulation of hot water and cold water valves in a manner well understood in the art. The tempered water is discharged through a spout shown 35- mounted through the wall of the tub. In Fig. 3 a spout 2 containing the diverter valve of our invention is shown with a shower arrangement affixed by the pipe 3 in the threaded opening 4 of the spout.

.A spout containing our diverter valve is shown in Fig. 1. Said spout 2 has a collar 5 and a threaded opening 6 for attachment to the pipe discharging tempered water into a tub, and has a threaded vertical opening 4 on the upper side for the insertion of a pipe 3 supporting, and supplying water to, a shower 8. Through the spout is the usual passage 9 which we finish in part with a smooth cylindrical surface for cooperation with a valve plug l0 hereinafter described. Beneath the passage 9 and within the wall of the spout is a by-pass channel H, the forward end of which is open to the passage 9 as shown at l2. At the rear of the channel is an opening l3 communicating with the passage 9. Mounted on top of the spout forward of the opening 4 are two vertical ears l4 between which in the spout wall is a slot l5. An angular lever i6 is mounted between said -ea.rs M by a pin 11 therethrough. The short element l8 of said lever is held in said slot I5 and in engagement with the valve plug I II as will be explained. The long element l9 terminates in a small weight 20. Forward of the ears I 4 a latch 2| is pivctally mounted transversely of the spout in a position to receive the long arm I9 of the lever, by which it is actuated to latching position holding said arm against movement.

Said latch as shown in Fig. 4 comprises two arms 5| and 52 upturned on either .side of a pivot-pin 53. The arm 5| is hook-shaped-and has a projection 54 whereby it is moved to release the arm I9. To secure automatic latching in case the latch is tilted to latching position when the lever element I9 is free, the upper surface 55 0f the hook and projection is so inclined that the descending arm l9 will move the latch to open position when it encounters said inclined surface. On the inside surface of the other arm 52 is an inclined surface 56 adapted to receive the descending lever element l9 which will thereby move the latch to operating or holding position as shown at 51. To retain the latch in this position until released by manual operation the arm 52 is weighted. The valve plug I0 is snugly fitted within the finished portion of the spout passage 9. On the upper side of said plug is a hole 22 which engages the short arm ill of the lever l6. This hole 22 is in the forward end of the plug III which end is solid. The rear portion of the plug II] has an interior longitudinal passage 23 open at the rear and closed at the forward end by the solid portion of said plug. A transverse slot 24 in the under wall of said plug communicates with the interior passage 23 just back of the solid portion of said plug. This slot 24 is so positioned as to be moved over the opening l3 between the interior passage 9 of the spout and the bypass channel II when the plug is held in locked position by the lever Hi and the latch 21. In the upper Wall of saidplugnear the rear end thereof is an opening 25 communicating with the interior passage 23, which opening is so positioned that it underlays theopening 4 in the spout wall when said plug is freed by the latch and moves to forward position under. the pressure of the water flowing thmugh the spout.

In operation the spout will provide a clear passage for water therethrough when the plug is latched in the position shown in Fig. 1. Water entering from the mixer will flow through the passage 9 until it encounters the plug In, it will V 25 i -Fig. .3.

2", x flow through the passage 23 in said plug and pass through the apertures 24 andl3 into the by-pass channel H and escape through the opening I2back to the main spout passage 9 and into' the tub.

But, when the latch 21 is tilted and the arm [9 released after temperingthe flowing, water to the temperature desired, theforce of the water acting against the solid portion of the plug will move the plug forward, closing the opening l3 into the by-pass channel and moving the opening'25 beneath the opening 4 whereby the water will escape through the shower arrangement. 7

When the water turned off, the weight 5 through the lever IE will move the plug backward to the initial position and the latch 2l will be 7 actuated by the descending arm, l9 which it will engage and hold, leaving the valve in condition for mixing and tempering the flowing water 20 before the shower is again used.

fiO'stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such statedmeans be employed.

7 We therefore particularly point out and dis- -tinctly'claim as our invention:

1. In a fitting for supplying water to a bath tub or thelike, a spout having a discharge open- 7 ing and an auxiliary opening and having aninterior passage therethrough to the discharge opening, aportion of which passage constitutes a seat for a sliding valve plug, a by-pass'channel 40' within thewall of said spout, an'inlet port and an outlet port between said channel and said passage, a valve plug closely and slidably fitted within the said spout, an opening in the rear 7 end of said plug, a hole in the wall of said plug communicating with said opening and so placed as to communicate with 'said auxiliary opening when the plug is'moved to a forward position, another hole in the wall of said plug communicating'with said opening in the rear of the plugand so placed as to communicate with said inlet port whensaid. plug is moved'to a rearward position, 'means adapted to movesaid'plug to a rearward position and means adapted to secure said firstn ameld means when it has so moved said plug. '2; In a' fitting for supplying water to a bath tub or the like, aspout having a discharge open 'ingf'and an auxiliary opening and having an interior passage therethrough to the discharge opening, a portionof which passage constitutes a seat for a sliding valve plug, a by-pass channel 7 within the wall of said spout, an inlet port and an outlet port between said channel, and said passage, a valve plug closely and slidably'fitted within the said spout, an opening in the rear end ofsaid plug, a hole in the wall of said plug communicating with said opening and so placed as to communicate with said auxiliary opening when the plug is' moved to a forward position,

"another hole in the wall of said plug communicat- 'ing with said opening in the rear 'of the'plug and so placed as to communicate with said inlet port when said plug ismoved to a rearward-post tion, a weighted'lever' pivotally mounted on said casing and through a slot therein engaging said plug; and a 'latchmounted on said casing be-,

neath said leveradapted to be moved to latching position by said lever as it falls and to restrain same from rising. V 3. In a fitting for a bath tub, or the like, a

' tubular spout provided with two discharge openings, a close fitting plug slidably mounted within said spout and having interior passages connecting the interior of said spout with each of said discharge openings alternately when said plug is ,in forward and rearward positions respectively, a weighted lever operative through an opening in thewall of said spout adapted to move said plug to a rearward position and adapted to move to permit the force of water running through said spout to move said plug to forward position and a latch adapted to hold said lever ''when 7 said plug is in rearward position. I

4. In a fitting for a bath tub or the like, a' tubular spout provided with two discharge open:

irigs, a close fitting plug slidably mounted within said spout and having interior passages con-.

necting the interior: of said spout with each of 7 said discharge openingsalternately'when said plug is in forward and rearward positions respectively, a weighted lever operative through an opening in the wallof said spout adapted to move said plug to a rearward position, and adaptedto' permit'the force of water runningithrough said spout to move said plug to forward position and a latch, operative by impact of said lever as it descends, adapted to catch and hold said lever when said plug is moved to rearward position.

5. In a fitting for a bath tub, or the like, a tubular spout provided with two discharge openings, a close fitting plug slidably mounted within said spout and havinginteriorpassages for connecting the interior of said spout with each of said discharge openings alternately when said plug is in forward and rearward positions respectively, means adapted'to move said plug to a rearward position, and means adapted to latch said firstnamed means when said plug is in" rearward position.

6. In a fitting vfor in said spout and having interior passages for a bath tub or the 111%,}. 7' V tubularfspout provided with two discharge openings, a closefitting plug slidably mounted withconnecting the interior of said spout with each of said discharge openings alternately when said plug is in forward and rearward positions respectively, means adapted to move said plug to a rearward position, and means operated by said firstnamed means adapted to hold same when it has moved said plug to rearward position."

7. A diverter valve comprising a spout. and anelement slidably mounted within said spout, an auxiliaryoutlet in said spout, a passage through i said element connecting's'aid outlet with the in terior of said spout in the rear of said element when said element is forced to forward position by water flowing therethrough, a main'dis charge outlet in said spout, a passage through" said element connecting the latter outlet with V the interior of said spout to the rearof said ele-.

ment when said element is moved'backward to a rear position, means to move. said element to such rear position and meansto latch said first namedmeansr i 8. A diverter valve; comprising means adapted to conduct a fluid therethrough, two discharge openings in said means, an element within said" means adapted to move under pressure of a" fluid passing through said means to a position i closing one of said openings and opening the other opening, counter-weighted means adapted to move said element to, and hold it in, a position opening the first said opening and closing said other opening when no fluid is passing through said first-named means, and means adapted to latch said counter-weighted means after so moving said element.

9. A diverter valve, comprising means adapted to conduct a fluid therethrough, two discharge openings in said means, an element within said means adapted to move under pressure of a fluid passing through said means to a position closing one of said openings and opening the other opening, counter-weighted means adapted to move said element to, and, hold it in, a position opening the first said opening and closing said other opening when no fluid is passing through said first-named means, and means adapted to latch said counter-weighted means responsive to movement thereof as it so moves said element.

10. A diverter valve, comprising a body having an interior passage-way, two discharge outlets through the walls of said passage-Way; an element fitted within said passage-way movable under pressure of a fluid flowing through said passage-way to a forward position covering one of said outlets and uncovering the other; means automatically moving said element rearwardly, when no fluid is flowing through said passageway, uncovering the first said outlet and covering the other; said element having an interior passage which opens rearwardly to the said passage-way and forwardly to the first said outlet when said element is in said rearward position; and means releasably latching said element in its said rearward position.

11. A diverter valve, comprising a body having an interior passage-way, two discharge outlets through the walls of said passage-Way, an element fitted within said passage-way movable under pressure of a fluid passing therethrough to a forward position, means automatically moving said element to a rearward position when no fluid is passing through said passage-way, and means releasably latching said element in said rearward position; said element having a passage which, when said element is in forward position, connects one of said outlets with said passageway to the rear of said element, and a passage which, when said element is in rearward position, connects the other of said outlets to said passage-way to the rear of said element.

12. A diverter valve, comprising a body having an interior passage-way; two discharge outlets through the walls of said passage-way; a valve plug fitted within said passage-way; movable under pressure of a fluid flowing therethrough to a forward position opening communication between the said passage-way and one of said outlets and closing communication between said passageway and the other of said outlets; means automatically moving said plug to a rearward position, when no fluid is flowing through said passage-way, closing communication between said passage-way and the first said outlet and opening communication between said passage-way and the other said outlet; and means releasably latching said plug in said rearward position..

13. A diverter valve, comprising a body having an interior passage-way; two discharge outlets through the walls of said passage-way; a valveplug fitted within said passage-way, movable under pressure of a fluid flowing therethrough to a forward position uncovering one of said outlets whereby it is in open communication with said passage-way, and communication between said passage-way and the other said outlet is closed; means automatically moving said plug to a rearward position, when no fluid is flowing through said passage-way, covering the first said outlet and opening communication between said passage-way and the other said outlet through a passage within said element; and means releasably latching said valve plug in said rearward position.

14. In a diverter valve, the combination of a body member provided with an inlet and first and second outlet passages, a member movable in said body and adapted when in first and second position to establish communication between said inlet and said first and second outlet passages respectively, and a gravity actuated lever, a latch on said body member, said lever being associated with said member eifective to normally move the latter into and maintain thesame in said first position, said member so arranged that when said latch is released, fluid under pressure in said inlet may move said member from said first position into and maintain the same in said second position.

PAUL F. KREUZER.

CHARLES F. SCHULTIS. 

